National League: 3 things to watch this busy weekend

It’s a big weekend of GAA action, though the way things are shaping up, we expect more fixtures to fall foul of the atrocious conditions.

By Declan Whooley

Things are really heating up in Division 1 of the football with three sides level on points at the top, while we are at the penultimate stage of the hurling league.

Here is what we can look forward to should the games survive the inevitable pitch inspections.

Can the Rebels put a nail in the Kerry coffin

The clash of the two Munster neighbours in Tralee will be an intriguing battle and perhaps a pre-cursor to a Munster Final clash on July 7.

After opening with defeats to Dublin and Kildare, the Rebels have rattled off three wins in a row to put themselves back into contention for a semi-final spot. An impressive win over Donegal last week was marred by another cruciate ligament injury for Colm O’Neill, joining Paddy Kelly and Ciaran Sheehan on the sidelines. Though his replacement Daniel Goulding shouldn’t weaken the side too much.

Colm O'Neill a huge loss for the Rebels

Eamonn Fitzmaurice has endured a difficult start with the Kingdom, breaking their losing streak with victory over Down last time out. Their points difference of -24 points to some obvious difficulties, but nothing rises the spirits like the sight of the red jersey. Colm Cooper is not expected to return until the final game against Tyrone, but after their first home win last weekend, the home crowd will hope for a similar result. If relegation wasn’t bad enough, for Cork to put another nail in the coffin would really stick in the throat.

Lilywhites and Red Hand jockey for top spot

Three teams are perched on eight points, and while the Dubs have been the standout side so far this year, Kildare and Tyrone have been hot on their heels.

Kieran McGeeney’s side were pretty awful, in the second half especially, in their defeat at Croke Park, but that game aside, have been building nicely for the summer.

Tyrone showed that shown why they are dark-horses for bigger things this season with an impressive win in the capital last time out, and their only blip has been a home reversal against Cork.

A win for either side will put them in pole-position for a semi-final spot.

Table toppers Clare take on bottom-placed Cats

If you were told that this was a top versus bottom clash at the start of the competition, not many would have back the Banner men to be the side flying at the top. We are only three games in of course, but Davy Fitzgerald has his county flying at the minute.

After a one-point defeat to Waterford in the opening game, they followed it up with impressive wins over Galway and Cork. After two All-Ireland’s in the past four years at U-21, some of these players are making their mark now at senior level.

The Cats got off the mark last time out against the Deise, but it will be interesting to see how they fare out away to a youthful team full of confidence. Could be the hurling clash of the weekend.

Elsewhere in hurling, Jimmy Barry Murphy’s Cork travel to Galway looking to bounce back after their first defeat last weekend to Clare, while neighbours Waterford and Tipperary meet at Walsh Park. In Division 1B, Limerick will look to make it four from four when they take on Offaly in Tullamore, while the Wexford-Dublin match has already been called off.

Other important games this weekend

In what is a busy weekend for football Mayo are one of three teams on two points and will hope that home advantage should be enough to swing the fixture against Donegal in their favour and ease relegation concerns. Down could be in real trouble if, as expected, they fail to beat the Dubs in Croke Park and their status in the top flight looks perilous.

In Division 2, table-toppers Westmeath host Armagh, while Galway host Wexford at Pearse Stadium.

Weather permitting, of course...